Loose-leaf binder



ec. 25 1923. 3,478,8W

J. SCHADE I LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Jan. 4, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 LL-ELLE Q;

I 1-H p E 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 25 1923.

J. SCHADE LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Jan. 7 4, 1923 Patented ec. 25, 1923.

JOHN SCHADE, OF HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL BLANK BOOK COMPANY, OF HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS, A VOLUNTARY TRUST ASSOCIATION OF COPARTNERSHIP.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER. v

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN SGHADE, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Holyoke, in the county of Hampden 5 and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loose-Leaf Binders; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will. enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in a ring binder and more especially to the flexible cover type, the principal objects being to provide a ring binder with hinged covers'and novel means for attaching the flexible covers to the hinge plates.

It is usual and of frequent occurrence for the hinge portions of loose leaf binders, especially fabrics and imitation leathers, to break or crack after some service, and for this reason the better grades of binders in the .ledgers and heavy goods are provided with metal hinges. So far as is known, however,'-this has never been done in the ring binders, probably for the reason that the usual method of binding the plate in the cover and cutting away the material around the hinge lugs or knuckles would make a construction too expensive and too cumbersome for'the lighter types of books. By the present invention a small diameter of hinge of thin metal is provided and flange portions are bent and folded in such away as to clinch over the edges of the cover and lining and give a very neat finish at the edges of the material besides making a small and light construction and one requiring no cutting away around the hinge lugs.

The invention further resides in the feature of construction and the arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1, is an inside plan view of a ring binder constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2, is a fragmentary .pers ective View lllustratingthe parts unassembiied,

Flgure 3, shows in cross section a modification wherein the cover is inserted in a single open pocket;

Figure 4:, is a similar view depicting the walls of the pocket clinched to the cover;

Flgure 5, is a further view of the modification illustrating a lining applied for additional finishing;

- Figure 6, is a detail cross section showing the vmethod of attaching a cut flush cover to the metal hinge side plate; I

Figure 7, isa like viewodepioting a further form of the invention employed for thick covers; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of the hinge side plate shown in Figure 7.

Referring more in detail to the drawings,

the numeral 1 designates the back plate of the improved ring binder, 2 the hinge plate having marginal or laterally disposed hinge knuckles 3, and 4, the ring unit or prongcarrying, sheet retaining mechanism in which the ring sections or prong-members are readily separated or opened by manipulating the lever 5 in a well known manner, the several parts being held together as by eyelet 6.

Thin metal side plates 7 are provided with hinge knuckles 8 cooperating with knuckles 3 and a connecting pintle 9 to form a hinge.

joint between the hinge plate and the opposite side plates. Each side plate is bent backwardly upon itself and then forwardly upon itself, more or less in the nature of an ogee or S-shaped curve, to form oppositely facing and relatively superposed pockets. The inner or upper pocket 10 faces toward the'hinge joint and "back plate while the outer or lower pocket 11 faces outwardly, the side plate being extended outwardly a distance beyond the bends to provide a broad ledge 12. An edge of the cover 13 is inserted in each upper pocket 10 and the inner edge of the lining 14 is inserted in the lower pocket 11 following which the superposed pockets are compressed so as to securely and 4 the side plate is provided with a single pocket 16 to receive the cover 13, the lower or lining pocket 11 having been omitted. After the cover has been inserted in the open pocket 16 (Figure-3) the latter is compressed to firmly clinch the cover in position as illustrated in F igure 4. The neat and durable connection thus afforded between the side plate and the coveris so efficient that a lining is unnecessary. However,- should a lining be desired it maybe adhesively secured to the cover and extend inwardly over the side plate as depicted at 17 in Figure 5.

A cut flush cover or one which is made from one-piece and somewhat thicker although flexible material, is secured to the metal side plate 18 by rivets 19. The cover 20 is preferably set in a jog or offset 21 toenable the cover to lie flush with the outer face of the side plate as illustrated in Figure 6.

In Figures 7 and 8 is depicted a further method of securing the side plate 22 to a thick and possibly a comparatively rigid cover 23. In this form, a series of prongs 24 are lanced from the upper wall of the upper pocket 25 while the lower wall is provided with a series of openings 26 to receive the prongs and permit them to pass' "for clinching the covers to the hinge side plates.

Heretofore flexible cover books have been made with the back and covers in one piece of leather, which required skilled labor owing to the nicety required in centralizing the back and covers and in securing in place the metal back plate. Furthermore this one piece .is very expensive since it is necessary to exercise great care in selecting one piece of leather of such a quality throughout as ,sdesired. Also in such one piece structures the covers are scored where they meet the back so as to give proper flexibility. These covers are continually breaking off owing to constant usage or else becoming frayed and unsightly. v

In the present invention, unskilled labor can readily handle both the back and the covers, since the back now is merely a narrow strip and the back plate is easily secured thereto as well as the r1ng structure and the back hinge element. The covers canthen be made by a separate operation-by unskilled labor. built-up covers which are made of an inside piece. of inferior material and outside facings of good material, or of cut flush covers, or any other form of cover, unskilled labor may be employed, and the. making of the backs and the covers in separate pieces expedites the making greatly lessens the cost.

What is claimed is 1. In a loose leafbinder comprising a back and separate side covers, a thin metal plate secured to said back and having spaced sockets formed at each of its side edges, thin metal side plates whose inner portions have reversely bent parts to provide oppositely opening upper and lower pockets, the inner edges of said side plates having spaced of the binders and In the instance of what is known as sockets that are complementary to the first named sockets, the inner edges of the side covers being housed. within the upper pockets the covers being then flexed around the side plates and extended immediately be neath the same, the cover linings having their inner edges housed within the lower pockets and then adherently secured upon the upper faces of the side plates whereby the latter are united to the covers, the pocket walls of the side plates being firmly compressed against the covers and linings to securely bind them in position, and a pin-tie.

inserted through said complementary sockets whereby the covers and back of the binder are connected.

2. In a loose leaf binder comprising a back and separate side covers, a metal plate secured to said back, metal side plates hinged to said back plate and bent adjacent their hinge portions to provide pockets, the inner edges of the covers and their linings being housed within said pockets, the bent portions of the side plates being compressed to securely bind said edges, said linings and covers extending respectively above and below said side plates with the linings adherently secured to said lates and covers.

3. A loose leaf bin er comprising a back part having laterally arranged hinge nuckles, side plates havin complementary hinge knuckles connecte to the first knuckles, the free edge of each of the side plates being bent upon itself to form pockets, and covers secured in said pockets.

4. A loose leaf binder comprising a back part having laterally arranged hinge l knuckles, side plates having laterally arranged hinge knuckles, side plates having complementary hinge knuckles connected to the first knuckles the free edges of the side plates being bent inwardly and outwardly &

hereto.

JOHN SGHADE. 

